NORRISTOWN — An arrest warrant has been issued for a Norristown man wanted in connection with a hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a pedestrian in the borough and authorities are seeking the public’s help in locating him.
Jean Carlos Esmeraldas Cruz, 26, of the 1000 block of DeKalb Street, is charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, or hit-and-run, accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, duty to give information and render aid, failing to notify police of an accident and driving without a license in connection with the 10:49 p.m. May 19, 2024, crash that claimed the life of 57-year-old Brian Clark of Norristown.
The hit-and-run occurred in the 300 block of West Main Street near Astor Street in Norristown.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Norristown Police Chief Jacqueline Bailey-Davis announced the filing of the charges against Cruz on Thursday.
Anyone with tips as to the whereabouts of Cruz should call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau at 610-226-5553 or Norristown Police at 610-270-0977.
Authorities described Cruz as a Hispanic male, with brown hair and brown eyes. Cruz is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 140 pounds.
The investigation began when Norristown police responded to the 300 block of West Main Street for report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Arriving officers found Clark lying in the median area of the roadway “with multiple injuries and in cardiac arrest,” according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Charles Farrell and Norristown Detective William Klinger.
A witness told police that Clark had been struck by a dark colored sports utility vehicle and that the driver immediately fled at a high rate of speed eastbound on West Main Street and then northbound on Markley Street. The witness reported the vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s side headlamp and officers found vehicle debris on the roadway, according to court documents.
Detectives obtained footage from multiple surveillance cameras in the area of the crash and observed the striking vehicle to have a non-functioning driver’s side headlamp and damage to the windshield “consistent with striking a pedestrian.”
Clark was transported to Einstein Montgomery Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy determined Clark died from multiple injuries and the manner of death was ruled accident.
On May 20, borough police observed a black Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle parked on East Wood Street near Arch Street, that “had a sheet covering the windshield and hood that concealed damage to the left front end and windshield,” detectives alleged.
“The damage sustained to this Hyundai was consistent with the fatal hit-and-run of Brian Clark and suspected human hair was observed within the damaged windshield,” Farrell and Klinger alleged, adding authorities impounded the vehicle.
The investigation determined that the vehicle was registered to Jean Landscaping, LLC that was linked to the DeKalb Street address where Cruz resided in an apartment with his girlfriend and children. Detectives attempted to make contact with Cruz at the apartment without success.
Detectives located surveillance video that depicted two men exit the damaged vehicle after parking in the 200 block of East Wood Street at 11:09 p.m. May 19. The men returned to the vehicle at 11:13 p.m. and covered the windshield and front of the vehicle with a sheet, according to the criminal complaint.
A search of the vehicle uncovered evidence inside that led them to an East Wood Street man who subsequently informed detectives he was a front seat passenger in the vehicle operated by Cruz, who he knew as “Jean,” at the time the vehicle struck Clark, court documents indicate.
The passenger told detectives that he heard Cruz scream and attempt to stop but struck a pedestrian. The passenger claimed Cruz stated that he did not have a license and drove from the scene without stopping.
“(The passenger) stated that Jean was well aware that he struck a person,” Farrell and Klinger alleged.
After parking the vehicle on East Wood Street and covering it with a sheet, Cruz and the passenger walked to the crash scene to determine what was occurring. The passenger told detectives that he and Cruz also witnessed police recover the Hyundai vehicle on May 21, according to the arrest affidavit.
Later, Cruz allegedly told the passenger that he “had to leave” with his girlfriend and their children.
Detectives attempted to make contact with Cruz again at his DeKalb Street apartment on May 22. At that time, neighbors stated they had not seen Cruz, his girlfriend, their children, or their dog since May 20, which was not typical, according to the arrest affidavit.
Cruz’ employer at a local landscaping company told detectives that Cruz contacted the company on May 20 and informed the employer he would not be reporting to work as he “had a family emergency,” according to the criminal complaint.
Detectives determined that Cruz did not have a valid driver’s license.
The charge of accidents involving death or personal injury can carry a mandatory sentence of three years in prison upon conviction.
